Perfectly Wrapped Gift:

For the perfectly wrapped gift, don't just eyeball it--measure it! For the first cut, wrap your paper around your box and cut the wrapping paper to have an overhang of the width of the box plus 1 inch. Fold back the seam to get a clean, straight edge.  

For your second cut, measure for the sides. Measure the height of your box and add an inch, cut and center the box on your paper.

Tape the bottom seam with double-sided tape. Neatly crease and fold the sides into 2 triangles. Tape down the bottom flap first, then the top flap.

You'll need:

• Gift box
• Kraft, butcher or wrapping paper 
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Scissors 
• Double-sided tape

Flower Cut-Out Embellishment:

Use a classic "snowflake" technique to create a floral cut-out gift embellishment. Start with a square piece of paper and fold on the diagonal; continue folding into fourths. Cut the top off in a rounded shape, then continue to cut into the paper as you desire to create details. Unfold and use double-sided tape or twine to secure to a box.

You'll need:

• Paper (we like using colored card stock!)
• Scissors
• Double-sided tape or twine

Bear Embellishment:

Make "ears" by cutting brown paper into 2 small semicircles. Cut 2 smaller semicircles from a lighter color (we like pink!) and use double-sided tape to attach the smaller semicircles to the larger ones to form the inner part of the ears. Fold down the bottom of the larger ear shapes so they adhere easily to the top of the box. Use hot glue to attach the ears to the box.

We like adhering the facial features to the side of the box with seams--it gives it character! Cut a small rectangle out of white paper and a "mouth" shape from black paper--adhere the mouth to the white rectangle. Use double-sided tape to attach it to the box at a mouth-appropriate level. Cut 2 black circles for "eyes," and 2 white "reflection" circles. Adhere the eye pieces together, then glue the eyes to the box

You'll need:

• Paper
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Double-sided tape

Cupcake Liner Flower:

Fold 10 to 12 cupcake liners (we like to use half one color, half another) into fourths or eighths, depending on how large the liner is. Cut the tip off of each to form a hole. Cut the liners to have rounded edges of varying sizes using the center as a guide. Knot the top of raffia wire (you can also use pipe cleaners or floral wire) and thread through the hole in the liners, stacking them so that the smallest one is closest to the knot. Trim the excess wire and attach to a bow on a wrapped gift.

You'll need:

• Cupcake liners in different colors
• Scissors
• Raffia wire, pipe cleaners or floral wire
• Bow

Chip Bag Wine Wrap:

Turn a potato chip bag or any large snack bag with a metallic inner surface inside out. Wipe clean with soap and water and let dry. Trim off the top to make a straight edge. Place a wine bottle inside and twist the excess bag material on the neck of the bottle in one direction while twisting the bottle in the opposite direction so that the bag is snug to the bottle. Secure with tape, twine or wire ribbon. 

You'll need:

• Potato chip or large snack bag with metallic inner surface
• Scissors
• Tape, twine or wire ribbon